Language impairment due to acquired brain injury
Aphasia is a language disorder that you can get as a result of brain damage. Literally it means: not to speak.
What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a condition in which people have problems with language. People with aphasia have difficulty reading, writing, speaking and understanding what is being said to them. The condition often occurs due to a stroke† But it can also be caused by, for example, a (traffic) accident or a brain tumor.
People with aphasia have problems understanding and producing language. They can no longer say what they want. There is not one form of aphasia: the disease has many forms. One patient, for example, still understands language well, but has trouble finding the right words. The other speaks a lot, but can hardly be understood. There are also people who can no longer speak because of aphasia.
Annoying
Aphasia can sometimes be difficult for both the patients and their relatives. The following tips can help in some situations: take the time as a neighbor for a conversation and talk calmly, ask short and closed questions. Tell or ask one thing and provide a calm environment. Are you not understood? Ask if it is necessary to repeat what you said. Do you not understand the person with aphasia? Be honest. It won’t help him or her if you pretend you understand.
Treatments
In many people with aphasia there is a spontaneous recovery of the language after the onset of the disorder. However, this recovery is rarely, if ever, complete. Progress can be made with a lot of practice. Keeping trying and persevering often leads to improvement. The results differ per patient. It is important to start speech therapy as soon as the situation allows. A speech therapist can give you advice and aids. Think, for example, of a special app on the tablet or a reference book.
In addition, various therapies are available, such as MIT (Melodic Intonation Therapy), SMTS (Speech Music Therapy for Aphasia) and TIAS (Therapeutic Instrument for Speech Apraxia).
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